Abstract: A multi-terrain wheelchair which has numerous features to provide for high degrees of maneuverability, versatility, comfort, convenience, and stability. The wheelchair has a suspension system in which a swing arm is attached to a rear camber tube and rear axle assembly. The swing arm pivots about an upward protrusion from the frame of the wheelchair. The swing arm meets resistance from a pneumatic cylinder, also attached to the frame. The pneumatic cylinder rather than the frame and the occupant absorbs any forces resulting from rough terrain. This suspension system results in a more comfortable ride and increases the versatility of the chair, in that it can traverse rough terrain with less impact on its occupant. The front wheel assembly of the wheelchair provides it with great maneuverability and stability. The large front wheels enable the chair to roll over any obstacle. Wheel stops and a linkage are provided between the front wheels.

Abstract: A power steering system (10) for use in a vehicle includes a power steering pump (12) which is driven by an engine (13) of the vehicle. The output from the power steering pump (12) is connected to a power steering valve (22). The power steering valve (22) is connected with a power steering motor (24). When the engine (13) is turned off, that is, in a non-operating condition, and the power steering pump (12) is not being driven, the fluid pressure in motor cylinder chambers (40, 42) is prevented from falling below a predetermined pressure to keep seals (64, 66) in sealing engagement with the power steering motor 24. To keep the fluid pressure in the motor cylinder chambers (40, 42) from falling below a predetermined pressure, a one-way valve (70) blocks the flow of fluid from the power steering valve (22) back to the reservoir (16).

Abstract: A power steering system (10) for a motor vehicle having a power cylinder with the piston mounted in the power cylinder which divides the power cylinder into first (30) and second (32) chambers. The steering system includes a valve assembly having a rotary input member (40) and a valve sleeve 42 and first and second pairs of open center input valves (18), each which has an inlet and an outlet. The inlets of the input valves are fluidly connected to pump output. The valve assembly further includes a pair of closed center input valves (4b) and a normally closed by-pass valve (50). A hydraulic pump (12) is controlled so as to maintain a constant pressure drop between the inlets and outlets of the closed center valve (4b) and normally closed by-pass valves (50) whereby initial fluid flow through the control valve is proportional to the area of a variable orifice comprised within the normally closed by-pass valve (50).

Abstract: An electrically power assisted, manually operated vehicle, such as a bicycle, that includes a force sensor for varying the amount of power assist by an electrical motor in response to the manual force input. In addition, a vehicle speed sensor is incorporated for sensing vehicle speed. An abnormality condition detector detects both the outputs from the force sensor and the vehicle speed sensor and indicates an abnormality and discontinues the supply of electrical power to the electric motor in the event of a discrepancy in the outputs of the sensors.

Abstract: A toy walking rocking horse. The toy horse includes a main body having a seat and a front leg member rigidly attached thereto. A head member shaped to simulate a head of a horse is mounted upon a front portion of the main body, with a pair of elongate handles extending laterally outward from the head in opposing directions. A rear leg member is pivotally attached to the main body at a pivot point such that the front leg member and the rear leg member are rotatable toward and away from each other about the pivot point. A rider may actuate the toy horse into a step-by-step forward progression by sitting upon the seat and alternately (i) rocking backward against the seat to rotate the main body and front leg member in the forward direction to a first forward-advanced position, and (ii) rocking forward against the handles and main body to shift weight of the rider off of the rear leg member to cause it to fall forward to a second forward-advanced position.

Abstract: An auto mechanics creeper having side rails such that trays may be temporarily attached to either rail by sliding a lip of the respective tray into a slot between the creeper platform and the rail.

Abstract: A propeller driven vehicle for traversing snow and ice covered terrain with improved steering response and stability. The vehicle has a motor driven propeller providing motive force to sustain forward motion of the vehicle regardless of terrain conditions. The vehicle rides on four skis which greatly enhance the stability of the vehicle and prevent the likelihood of tipping during sudden and severe turning. A parallelogram suspension system provides maximum contact between the skis and the terrain while allowing the skis to respond to vertical undulations in the terrain. A foot operated drag brake is mounted in the rear of the vehicle to decelerate the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved bicycle includes a handlebar which may be moved such that the handlebar remains essentially unmoved when the bicycle frame moves when encountering an obstacle and/or irregularity. Various embodiments provide different degrees of movement of the handlebars and linear or arcoidal types of movement. In one embodiment, movement of the handlebar with respect to the bicycle frame results in a movement of the bicycle's seat to allow for an improved posture for the rider.

Abstract: An occupant propelled three wheeled vehicle, e.g., a tricycle, includes a frame, a seat, a front driven wheel, two laterally spaced steerable rear wheels and handlebar steering mechanism. The front wheel is driven via a gear and chain arrangement by a pedal assembly which is located at least partially rearwardly of the front wheel axis. The handlebar steering mechanism is located forward of the seat and controls the steering of the rear wheels by simultaneously rotating each rear wheel about a respective vertical axis. The handlebar steering mechanism includes levers which independently control the braking of the two rear wheels and the front wheel. The handlebar steering mechanism also includes a gear shift lever permitting the user to selectively choose a desired gearing ratio between the pedal assembly and the front drive wheel. The seat is positioned with respect to the pedal assembly for substantially upright pedalling, as opposed to recumbent pedalling.

Abstract: A wheel coupling for attaching a vehicular device to a vehicle wheel and having mounting brackets which are adapted for connection to selected lug bolts of a wheel to mount the coupling on the wheel and adjustable to permit mounting of the wheel coupling on wheels having different numbers of lug bolts and lug bolt spacings. A vehicular trailer hitch and snow/ice traction device embodying the wheel coupling, and a lug bolt gauge for aiding adjustment of the coupling to the proper configuation for different lug bolt numbers and spacings.

Abstract: An adjustable apparatus for mounting a rear axle to a motorcycle frame in a process of converting a two wheel motorcycle to a three wheel motorcycle includes a pair of mounting plates to be connected to the rear axle, a pair of mounting arms to be connected between the mounting plates and the original motorcycle frame, and adjustable connecting joints to be disposed between the mounting arms and the mounting plates and between the mounting arms and the original motorcycle frame. The alignment of the rear axle relative to the longitudinal axis and line of travel of the motorcycle may be adjusted by adjusting the connecting joints to effectively shorten or lengthen the effective length of the mounting arms.

Abstract: A motorcycle stroller including a trike frame. The trike frame has a front end, a rear end and a base with brackets on a lower area thereof. The front end has a housing attached and seated on a front section of the base. The housing has seated thereon a casing. The casing has a front portion with a throat with a front fork, an upper surface and a cavity therein. Included is a handlebar that is attached to the throat at a side opposite the front fork. The rear end of the frame has positioned thereon a storage unit. The storage unit has a bottom wall integral a rear section of the base of the frame, a rear wall, a front wall with a horizontal projection in a plane above the bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls and an opening along an upper edge. The side walls each have a side opening. Included is a lid that has a rear edge hingeablly coupled to the horizontal projection. A front wheel and two rear wheels to support the frame. A seat positioned on the base.

Abstract: In a power transmitting system for distributing a torque to left and right driving wheels in a front engine and front drive vehicle, a transmission is connected to one end of an engine which is horizontally disposed at a front portion of a vehicle body, and a planetary gear type differential is disposed in a space provided in the rear of the transmission. A first clutch and a second clutch are disposed laterally side by side in a space provided in the rear of the engine for controlling the torque transmitted to left and right front wheels by increasing and transmitting the rotation of a ring gear, which is an input member of the differential, to a left axle or a right axle. Thus, the pair of left and right clutches, added to the differential, can be rationally disposed by effective utilization of the spaces.

Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a front frame having a bottom bracket secured to the bottom portion. A middle frame is pivotally coupled to the bottom bracket and is rotatable relative to the front frame. A chain stay has one end pivotally coupled to the bottom bracket and has the other end coupled to the middle frame by a shock absorbing device. Another shock absorbing device is secured between the front frame and the middle frame so as to allow relative movement-between the middle frame and the front frame and so as to absorb shocks transmitted between the middle frame and the front frame.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a cycle vehicle is disclosed herein for selectively importing a driving force from a pedal operated front gear drive section to a rear gear driven section via a variable transmission. The drive section and the driven section include a plurality of concentric circular rows of gear teeth selectively engageable by front and rear intermediate gears positionable on linear guide rods by a variable combination of manually settable transmission gears. The drive and driven section gears constitute shift gears adapted to achieve gear speed change and provide a driving force to the rear wheel via rotating shafts.

Abstract: A trailer-container for a vehicle (1) which can be converted into a support base on an air cushion comprising a rigid sectionalized platform (4) equipped with a flexible inflatable air cushion skirt (5) with removable rotor-type power plants (6) and means for coupling them to the drive of the vehicle (1) mounted on the platform. The platform (4) of the trailer-container is made of rigid interconnected sections which can be folded into a compact package. The sections are connected to the flexible inflatable skirt (5). Each of the power plants (6) is made as a blower fan and a variable-pitch air screw which are mounted coaxially in a common ring housing. The platform (4) together with the skirt (5) is fitted with disengagable attachment joints for securing it to the wheelbase of the vehicle (1) so that disturbances of the platform and skirt can be damped by suspension of the vehicle when in motion.

Abstract: A trailer unit includes a front trailer section and a rear trailer section disposed in an aligned end-to-end relationship with a lift arm being pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof to the front and rear trailer sections. The rear trailer section includes a series of ground engaging wheels, whereas the front trailer section, when hitched to the tractor truck, is simply supported by the tractor truck's conventional fifth wheel. The trailer unit is adapted to be rigged to a conventional tractor truck with no important modifications having to be made thereto. Hydraulic cylinders are pivotally mounted at their cylinder ends to rear of the front trailer section and at their piston ends to the front end of the lift arm. When the cylinders are extended, a rear end of the lift arm is gradually pivoted upward and forward, whereby lifting the front end of the rear trailer section and carrying the same gradually onto the front trailer section.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a suspension fork assembly particularly for use with bicycles. The assembly comprises an outer steer tube which is adapted to be mounted in and extend through the head tube of the bicycle frame, and an inner steer tube telescopes within the outer steer tube. A shock absorbing system is provided within the tubes. The inner surface of the outer steer tube and the outer surface of the inner steer tube each have a plurality of axially arranged opposing longitudinal flat sections, such as four on each tube. A plurality of needle bearings are disposed between the tubes on these flat sections. This arrangement, with the needle bearings arranged on the flat sections between the inner and outer tubes, allows the two tubes to freely telescope in and out with respect to one another without any significant static friction, and also serves to transmit the torsional steering force from the outer tube to the inner tube.

Abstract: A foldable bicycle frame member includes first and second shafts connected pivotally at one end and a locking unit for retaining releasably the first and second shafts in a coaxial position. The locking unit includes a first locking arm having a first end connected pivotally to the second shaft, and a second locking arm having a first end connected pivotally to a second end of the first locking arm and a second end connected pivotally to the first shaft. The first and second locking arms are formed as elongated members that are generally U-shaped in cross section. A retaining pin extends through pivot holes formed in the first end of the second locking arm and into longitudinal slots formed in the second end of the first locking arm. The position of the retaining pin in the slots when the second locking arm is received in the first locking arm can be adjusted to adjust the force for retaining releasably the first and second shafts in the coaxial position.

Abstract: A variable effort power steering gear including a control valve substantially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,801, an electromagnetic apparatus substantially as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,898 for varying the effective centering force of a torsion bar of the control valve, and a support means for a tubular spool shaft of the steering gear relative to a pinion head of the steering gear which affords the spool shaft a degree of freedom relative to the pinion head perpendicular to a lateral centerline defined by a pair of radially oriented pins connecting a valve body of the control valve to the pinion head to prevent binding between the valve body and a valve spool on the spool shaft.